GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida College of Nursing has named Debra Lyon as its executive associate dean and the Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo endowed chair, effective Jan. 2. Lyon comes to UF from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she serves as associate dean for research and the Judith B. Collins and Joseph M. Teefey distinguished professor.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Using the largest dated evolutionary tree of flowering plants ever assembled, a new study suggests how plants developed traits to withstand low temperatures, with implications that human-induced climate change may pose a bigger threat than initially thought to plants and global agriculture.

GAINESVILLE—Kids and dogs understand the force of air, when they stick their hands and heads out of moving cars only to feel them pushed back. It may be invisible, but air is like a see-through net dragging a vehicle back as it strains to move forward.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new television show that starts Jan. 4 on WUFT Channel 5 will give viewers tasty tidbits about Florida food along with a focus on fresh, sustainable food and native Florida cooking.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A quick spray on the tongue with an oral spray containing a compound that naturally occurs in the body could be all it takes to curb appetite and spark weight loss. And unlike oral weight-loss sprays currently on the market, this one holds the promise of being backed by medical science.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Museum of Natural History visitors will have the opportunity to view a variety of collections — from antique cars to Coca-Cola memorabilia and stamps to Legos — during the 35th Collectors Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 25.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida researchers and their colleagues have sequenced the genome of the flowering plant Amborella for the first time, potentially revealing why flowers may have proliferated millions of years ago and offering clues for improving all major food crop species.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Although some scientists suggest that coral reefs are headed for certain doom, a new study by University of Florida and Caribbean researchers indicates even damaged reefs can recover.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Consumers who are more concerned about what types of sugars are in their drinks will likely choose a less-sweetened beverage, although most people don’t know the difference between natural and added sugars, a new University of Florida study shows.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In Arthur “Art” Sandeen’s 26 years as head of University of Florida student affairs and 14 years as a College of Education professor, his love and advocacy of students gave the university community a friend and leader they knew they could count on.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Yulee/Reid Hall parking lot at the northwest corner of Museum Road and SW 13th Street will be closed starting Dec. 18 for construction of a new residence facility. The orange and carpool parking spaces in this lot will be relocated for the duration of the project.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida researcher has mapped the DNA genome of a new strain of citrus greening that could further threaten Florida’s beleaguered $9 billion citrus industry. Knowing the genetic makeup of the various strains is critical to finding a cure.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida researchers have gained new insight into produce-associated salmonella that they hope will eventually reduce the number and severity of the illness-causing outbreaks.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — U.S. Army Sgt. Phillip Pitts was stationed at a small outpost without walls in Rawah, a city northwest of Baghdad. He and his fellow soldiers ate MREs every day for a year and didn’t have reliable phone or Internet service. They guarded the perimeter and spent days searching for weapon caches and bomb factories.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This winter break students can ring in the holiday season with scientific exploration and natural history investigation during Florida Museum of Natural History’s school holiday camps beginning Dec. 23 through Jan. 17.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will arrive Dec. 8 to examine all aspects of the University of Florida Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Linda Stump announced today.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Starting today, the Collegiate Veterans Success Center at the University of Florida is a host site for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program to better serve veterans now in college.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Acclaimed Irish ensemble Danú – twice named best traditional group by the BBC – presents its Celtic music celebration, “Christmas in Ireland: An Nollaig in Éirinn” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts at the University of Florida.

Finance professor Jay Ritter was mentioned in a Nov. 8 article in the Financial Times about Twitter’s IPO pricing. A link to the article is not provided because the Financial Times website is by subscription only.

Psychology professor Kate A. Ratliff was quoted in a Nov. 4 Washington Post article about a study she conducted that found a woman’s success can damage her male partner’s ego. See feature story on Ratliff’s research.